St. Croix Above and Below

i had this whole piece i worked on that maybe i'll publish another day. These past few days have been so outstanding that i thought a photo journal would be more fun and maybe elicit good feelings. The black sea urchins are spawning but i didn't have my camera late yesterday. It is a real treat to watch them perching on top of coral with their spines in the most beautiful positions. Normally you never see them move but yesterday early evening they were beside themselves. They pile up on each other then release this fine white thread of reproductive material that turns into a milky cloud. Its a total orgy out there on the inner reef and then they topple off the coral and go back to their holes. This first picture is looking back at Cane Bay from the water. That smudge is a water spot.

                                      

These century plants all over the island are just so majestic when they bloom. This one at Off The Wall is finally getting its yellow flowers.

 

This is the same file fish trying to hide in the second pic and losing his spots. Isn't his yellow eyelid beautiful?

Black Durgon's are so hard to photograph but i got a few in among the Wrasse.

 Ghost fish, they are so hard to see against the sand even when the water is crystal clear. Actually i think the bigger ones are bone fish but i would like to be corrected if i'm wrong.

 Purple Sea Fan...this ones veins were very distinct yesterday.

More ghost fish...no they are permits.

 This little green was so cooperative yesterday...isn't his shell the most beautiful you have ever seen?
















This was a first for me. In all the years I've been swimming i have never seen two Peacock Flounders together. Double click on it so you can really see how close they are. Spring is here.

You hardly ever see Rust op Twist with no waves. The island has been drying out a bit.

Sunset two nights ago. Very sepia toned.

Sunset half an hour later, same day.

See ya next week.